Beer Guy: Asheville breweries head to Hickory Hops brew fest

Apr. 12, 2011

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Visit CITIZEN-TIMES.com/beerguy to read past columns and to explore the Asheville Beer Engine, a data base of brews made in Asheville and Buncombe County. Follow Beer Guy Tony Kiss on Twitter at AVLBeerguy.

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This weekend, most of Asheville's breweries are picking up their pints and heading down Interstate 40 to downtown Hickory for the ninth annual Hickory Hops brew festival on Union Square.

You ought to join them. It's an easy drive with a big payoff. Hickory Hops has become the unofficial start to the area's beer festival circuit. Many of North and South Carolina's craft breweries are taking part. But don't delay in getting tickets — it's looking like a capacity crowd of 3,000.

What sets this festival apart from the others is the Carolinas Championship of Beer competition, in which the breweries get to enter their lagers and ales into a judging. Two weeks ago, I helped judge that contest, which featured 260 brews. The medals will be presented Saturday afternoon.

Hickory Hops tickets are $30, $10 for designated drivers. Order online at www.hickoryhops.com. It's open to ages 21 and older (and that includes the designated drivers).

Coming next on the brewfest scene: Just Economics Just Brew It homebrew festival May 1 and the Beer City Festival June 4, both at Pack Square Park in Asheville.

Rollin' on the river

Highland Brewing has a strong connection with the great outdoors. All of its seasonal beers are named for area mountaintops.

So the tasting room is a good spot to screen the new feature film “Raven Folk,” a drama about two whitewater kayakers. See it at 8 p.m. Thursday for

$5.

Feel free to enjoy a few Highland beers while watching the film — Highland has just released a new limited-edition rye and wheat beer called Flogging Roggen, available only at the tasting room.

Happy birthday to Pack's

Don't forget the first anniversary party at 7 p.m. Thursday at Pack's Tavern, 20 S. Spruce St. They'll tap a cask of Uncle Teddy's Bitter from Victory Brewing Co.

On Tuesday, there's a Natty Green's takeover, with five of that brewery's ales on draft.

Road trip

Sweetwater Brewing in Atlanta is hosting its annual 420 Fest Friday-Sunday in that city's Candler Park. Expect lots of music and the brewery's fine beers. Wrist bands to drink are $5.

Also, Sweetwater's new crisp seasonal Road Trip Ale has been released. Look for it